Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Mongla Port and Khulna on Thursday, raising expectations of a major boost to port capacity, investment, and employment across the southwestern region.
During the visit, he will lay the foundation stone for a Tk4,068 crore project to construct two container jetties and develop associated facilities at Mongla Port.
The port project is expected to modernize infrastructure, increase cargo-handling capacity, and create new opportunities for domestic and foreign investment, generating employment in the region.
According to Mongla Port Authority, the project follows an agreement signed between Bangladesh and China on October 10. China will provide Tk3,593 crore, while the Bangladesh government will contribute Tk475 crore.
The project includes a 368-metre container terminal and yard, specialized facilities for handling hazardous goods, and 49 pieces of equipment. Once completed, the facilities will enable the port to handle more than 30 containers per hour and raise its annual handling capacity to 400,000 TEUs.
The prime minister will also attend the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Invent Bangladesh and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).
State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam said the visit would help establish Mongla Port as an important hub for international trade while accelerating economic activities, and creating employment opportunities across the region.
After visiting Mongla, the prime minister will pay his respects at the shrine of Hazrat Khan Jahan Ali before travelling to Khulna District Stadium to inaugurate the "Notun Kuri sports competition (season 2)".
At a press briefing, National Parliament Whip Rakibul Islam said the initiative would encourage young people to pursue sports professionally and help restore Khulna's reputation as a sports city.
Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary Mahfuzul Alam Khan said around 16.23 lakh online registrations had been received for the sports competition, compared with 168,000 in the first. The competition will feature 10 sporting events.
